Reviews for Forties Film Talk: Oral Histories of Hollywood, with 120 Lobby Posters

The average rating for Forties Film Talk: Oral Histories of Hollywood, with 120 Lobby Posters based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-11-29 00:00:00 Ian Tyack This is one of those books that you dip into from time to time, rather than read straight through in one sitting. The reason for that is that there are so many interviews here that you wouldn't want one to run into another. The first half of the book is previously-unpublished interviews with film folk regarding their 1940s films. There are big names here (James Stewart) and then the folks who even I was hard-pressed to remember at this point (too many to mention). They all had interesting stories, especially those folks whose careers were short and, perhaps, not so glamorous. The second half of the book contains short snippets of comment from various people involved in filmmaking - writers, producers, directors, actors, etc., and that is at least as much fun. People like John Lund, who had a decent career, saying that he was best viewed from a great distance for a short period of time, was hilarious to me. And then there were the folks who, at this point in their lives, were not interested in maintaining the facade of one big happy Hollywood family. Mud gets slung, and that makes for many laugh-out-loud moments. I feel that Forties Film Talk is an indispensable volume for anyone doing research on filmmakers from the 1940s, especially if that research includes some of the lesser-known names in the business. As a book I would sit down and read from cover to cover without coming up for breath, well, this isn't that kind of book. As one that I would go back to whenever I need an interesting tidbit or when I'm researching a person? Right on the money.

Review # 2 was written on 2016-01-11 00:00:00 Zintax Zin A marine's account of war in Vietnam This is as good a book about war in Vietnam and the operations around the dmz, as one will find anywhere. Mr Kelly has written a historical account, which is important not only to himself, but, for the job he was doing in directing firepower on the enemy and bringing in helicopters for medevecs. I read with a sense of joy the relationship he had with officers in the field and what a difference the environment became in the rear battalion areas, where uniformity was strictly enforced. Hardly the place for a marine, who spent so much time in the field, without adequate food or water. His stories of fallen comrades, real people, were treated very respectful and their effect on him. I highly recommend and wish Mr Kelly, peace and serenity for the rest of his life.